AP43's news pages contained a small story entitled Some Errors. It ran,

Core Design have asked us to point out the following errors in AP41's review of Universe: 1) we reviewed the A500 version and not, as we claimed, the A1200 version; (2) we didn't mention that it's the first A500 game to feature 256 colours; 3) you can actually skip the intro; and 4) the music hadn't been finished in the version we reviewed. (And? - Steve The Publisher.) And... (nngh...) we're sorry. All right?

But what had brought about this catalogue of errors?

Jonathan Nash

I reviewed Universe. But not originally. Originally, another member of AP was assigned the game. The other member of AP met Core's representative and was told (for example) it was a special A500 version. A review then occurred, which was terrible.

The review savaged the game as boring and clumsy, but lacked examples, suggested that if you liked point-and-click adventures you'd like this, and gave it 70%.

Attempting to pin down the other member of AP on specific clumsinesses, I quickly realised it was easier to look for myself. This became me playing the game for three days and quietly writing another review altogether. Universe was now worth 21% and could consider itself damned lucky I hadn't time to play it to the end.

Later, I was summoned to Steve The Publisher's office and presented with Core's letter of complaint. Clearly the fault was mine for not checking with the original reviewer if, say, the horrible music unmentioned in the first review was a demonstration only or if, for example, the screenshots taken were all from the first scene (I got about halfway through the game but didn't bother with pictures as, of course, they'd already been done) and Steve had no idea anyone else was involved anyway, so I accepted responsibility. He decreed that I would apologise, which I refused to do on the grounds that not being able to find the key combination to stop the intro (and so on) had nothing to do with the game's being bumblingly tedious and the list was mere pettifogging. Steve however considered the matter not one for discussion and replied in my place, signing my name to a letter of apology.

This was annoying. Far worse was the spot in news. We'd expected to run a correction, but instead were dictated this grovelling apology for not mentioning the number of colours on the screen. ("Universe trounces Monkey Island in every way graphically... with your bloke hacking around smashing backgrounds in finely-rendered 3D without ever looking blocky or cartoony," was apparently irrelevant.) Despite not once contesting the review's conclusion that the game was awkward and tiresome, Core succeeded in having us made look fools by our own The Publisher.

Wasps in a jar, eh, readers?

I am, however, fully and wholly to blame for stating Universe came on six disks when pointing out the game didn't recognise a second disk drive. It came on five. Honestly, it's a wonder I don't open the door in my face every morning.